Burglar alarm system



Jan. 16, 1940u E. o. WALKER BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM Filed March 1, 1937 INVENTOR. Ew//v O, WAL/5R ATTORNEY.

` Patented Jan. 1s, 1940 i i y 2,137,507;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,187,507 BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM Edwin o. Walker, chicago, lu.

Application March l, 1937, Serial No. 128,353

' 7 claims. (ci. 177-314) My invention relates in .general to an improved installation 'the apparatus `would consist, of four burglar alarm ,system and especially to a promain parts, namely, teotive system for `stores or other premises in- 1. A control cabinet housing the dry cell bateluding not only a visual kor audible alarm but teries and relays, and having the switches .5 also the release of tear gas to. prevent theft and mounted thereon.

unauthorized entry of the premises. 2. A loud ringing alarm bell mounted SOIne- A great many burglar alarm systems have been where near the premises. designed and are in use which provide alarms 3. Tear gas guns or bombs distributed throughwhen a protective circuit is broken by unauthorout the premises, and

l ized entry. Such an alarm will only attract the 4. Gas contacts or trip SWtClleS` `Set tllrOllgll- 10 attention of a watchman or an oilicer on the out the premises in position to be tripped by an beat, `but'is usually ineffective to prevent burintruder either Walking ,across the floor or reglary,` especially in small stores such as dress moving merchandise and in addition the usual shops, jewelry shops, fur stores`,`etc., where goods alarm Circuit pas-'Sing tllrOugll tin Oil StrDS On l of great value can be seized and carried away in all windows which will be severed whenever a 15 a short 'interval of time and before help arrives. Window is broken, and through COrllaCtS 0n dOOlS, This is` true whether an alarm is sounded on transoms. etc., which will be opened in Case they the premises orat a remote point such as a genare forced. eral alarm station. In the drawing the alarm circuit just men- The system of my improved design neoypotioned is indicated by the :1: wiring shown tothe 20 ratesv not only the alarm feature but alsothe addiright 0f relay D between Points l and and 3 tional feature of setting ofi tear gas bombs on and 4. The trip switches Which I have menthe premises whenever thepremises are forcetiOned as being Set arOund Vthe premises are fully entered.` In systems using tear gas it is shown diagrammatically at 5 and S as multiple essential that every precaution must be taken to COBtaCtS any One 0f Wlliell Will ClOSe its Circuit- 25 insure against the accidental discharge of tear The loud ringing bell or general alarm Signal iS gas bombs by any inadvertent operation of the shown at .1. Twocircuits are shown each insystem by employees either after or while the Cluding a plurality 0f gas bombs 0r guns. These alarm system'is being ser.` This is extremely imguns are indicated only diaerammatcallv at 8 U0 portant when tear gas is used because an acand 9 and may 0f COurSe be any type 0f gun 0r 30 cidental discharge of a gas bomb would drive bomb adapted t0 be Set Off O1" eXDlOded eleCtrieveryone from the premises for an hour or more Gally. One type Of Such bOnlb iS described in U.

before the gas could be dispersed. S. Letters Patent #2,068,159 granted January u `In addition to providing an eiiioient alarm sys- 19, `1937 tem in which an alarm is sounded and gas is In the drawing I have shown two batteries B 35 automatically released by an unauthorized entry, and B2 one of L5 volts and the other `of '7.5 volts I have provided a system of safe guards against With their positive poles grounded for convenaccidental operation which makes the system ience of illustration. In practice one battery may completely foolproof and also provides a combe used if desired and direct wire connections 40 plete `check and test ofthe system each time it will probably be used in place of ground. 40 is set, without danger to the operator. The steps which must be taken to set the alarm The safeguards are arranged in such a mansystem will now be described in their proper sener that a denite sequence of operations is requence. The switch A is :rst operated to close quired before the alarm system can be set and contacts IB and Il. This operation completes a whenever any accidental operation is performed circuit from ground through springs IE and Il, 45 an alarm. is sounded which gives notice tl'lereofi 4armature l2 and its back Contact, springs I3 and and permits time for the store owner or manager i4, lamp L, and tllrOugll battery B and bank t0 to shut oli the system before a second action ground. Lamp L lights momentarily over this takes place vand thus prevent the release of tear circuit. At the same time however another cirgas. The arrangement of theA system vand kthe opcuit is completed from `ground through springs 5o erations required in setting it into operation will l l, Wire l5, wire l6,'s'prings l1 and I8, terminal be pointed out below by'reference to the accom- 3, :r alarm wiring, terminal d, relay D, terminal panying drawing. 2 and a: alarm wiring to terminal I, variable re- 'Ihe drawing shows a schematic diagram of the sistance R, ammeter AM, and through battery B2 completecircuit of my improved system. In 4an to ground. Relay D will energize over this circuit provided the n: alarm Winding is intact and battery B2 is in proper condition. If the alarm winding is complete then relay D energizes to open the back contact of armature I2 and close with its front contact. The opening of the back contact opens the previously traced circuit of lamp L so as to notify the operator that the :12 alarm wiring is in condition. The momentary operation of lamp L also indicates that switch B is in normal position. The closure of the front contact `of relay D completes a new circuit of relay D exclusive of the springs of switch B, from ground through armature II and l5, armature I2 and its front contact, and through alarm wiring v and relay D over the previously traced circuit buzzer 22 to battery B' and ground. If any of the contactors 5 or ,5 should be closed and therefore not properly set then the above traced circuit would be completed and the buzzer 22 would ring to warn the operator not to proceed farther with the setting of the systems until the contactors were properly set and all open.

Assume that `the system is properly prepared and the lamp L lights only momentarily and buzzer 22 does not ring. The operator will then operate the switch B to its on position to open springs l1 and I 8 and to change spring I3 from contact with spring Hl into contact with spring 23. The opening of springs I'I and i8 opens the original circuit through relay D so that it can not reenergize until switch B is again normal,

3 and the opening of springs I3 and I4 opens the circuit of lamp L. The closing of springs I3 and 23v prepares a circuit for relay E extending from ground through springs II and It `of switch A through armature I2 and its back Contact (now open), springs I3 and 23, relay E, and battery B to ground. Relay E therefore does not energize vas long as relay D is held upk by current in the alarm circuit wiring.

Should any of the preceding tests have failed to function that is, if relay D should be back due to the alarm wiring being open, then the relay E would energize over the above traced circuit through the back contact of relay D. If relay E should energize and move its armatures 20, 2!

if and 24 to close their front contacts, then a circuitl is completed for the loud ringing bell I' from ground at springs II of switch A, wire I5, armature 24 and its front contact, and bell 1 to battery B and ground. Also if relay D is enerl'. gized but a gas contactor 5 or 6 should close then a circuit would be completed from ground through springs II, wire I9, a contactor 5 or (i, armature 26 or 2l and its front contact, spring 25 or 26 of switch C and its normal contact 21 or 28, resistance R', and buzzer 22 to battery B and ground.

Should all tests be satisfactory andfneither of the bell 'I or buzzer 22 operate after switch B has been thrown then the operator may proceed with. the last step in the setting of the system which is the operation of switch C to cut the gas bombs in circuit. The operation of switch C switches springs and 25 from contact with springs Z'I and 28 and thereby from buzzer 22 and into contact with springs .2S and which are connected by wires 3| and 32 through a series of gas bombs orv guns 8 and 9 to battery B2.

The system is now fully set and ready for any forced entry. The operator must then have the usual means for leaving the premises by short circuiting a'door circuit until he has passed out and locked the door at which time the short circuit is removed. In the diagram I have shown two sets of gas bombs and two sets of gas contactors, each set of bombs and the associated contactors in circuit therewith may be in one room or section and it will be understood that as many sets may be provided as are desired to sectionalize the system or the operation of any contactor may be arranged to set loff the whole series of bombs.

After the system is set it will function as follows. Anyone entering the premises will rst break the alarm wiring at some point in the :r

wiring between terminals I and 2 or 3 and 4 and thus break the circuit of relay D. Relay D upon falling back will complete the circuit of relay E at the back contact of armature I2 and cause energization of that relay.y Relay E, upon energizing, will immediately close the circuit of the loud ringing alarm bell 1 at armature 24 and its front contact to sound a general alarm. Should the intruder be scared away by the alarm bell I no further operations will ensue. The energization of relay E in addition completes another point in the gas bomb circuits at armatures 2li and 2I and their front contacts so that these circuits are now complete except for the l gas contactors 5 and 6. Should the intruder continue and enter the premises in an effort to obtain plunder before help can arrive then he will operate one of the contactors '5 or 6 which are placed around the rooms in easily tripped position. The operation of a contactor such as 5 at this time will close a circuit from ground through springs II of switch A, wire I9, contactor Sparmature 20 and front contact, springs 26 and 3U of switch C, wire 32, gas bombs 9 in parallel, and battery B2 to ground. The bombswill be immediately exploded by this closure of their circuit and tear gas will be released. If the intruder attempts to escape by entering the section where contactors 6 are placed then the similar circuit -of bombs 8 will be closed and they will also be exploded. Thus while gas is immediately released by forced entry it will be seen that the breaking of a window by frost or other cause without entry of the premises will only sound the alarm bell 'I without releasing tear gas. Also in case one of the gas contactors is tripped without the alarm circuit having been broken, then the buzzer 22 will be sounded as a trouble signal without the release of tear gas.

In addition to the above features, I have also provided manual means for operating the system in case of a daylight raid. The switch Fis shown which has springs 33 for closing the circuit of alarm bell 'I and springs 34 and 35 for preparing a circuit for the gas bombs 8 and 9. This switch may be located in one of the oiices or there may be several of such switches at different locations. After switch F has been thrown then a special switch G may be operated to complete the circuit of the tear Agas bombs over the obvious circuit from switch G and through springs 34 and 35 of switch F. The switch or switches such as G will usually be under glass which must be broken before operation and having warning signs to warn employees that this switch should not be tampered with except in emergencies. Other manual switches may be provided as desired for ringing bell l and operating the gas bombs simul-v taneously.

Having fully described the features of my invention what I consider to be new and desire to have protected will be pointed out in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a burglar alarm system, an alarm signal, gas discharge devices, a :closed protective circuit, means in said circuit responsive to any opening of said circuit to control the alarm signal, a normally open circuit having means therein responsive to a closure of the circuit to operate said discharge devices, said last means inoperative to control said devices until the rst means has operated, and means including contactors in said normally open circuit operative to control the means in said circuit to operate the discharge devices only after said iirst means has operated.

2. In a burglar alarm system, an alarm circuit, a lrelay in said circuit, gas discharge devices, a. circuit containing normally open .contactors for controlling said devices, an alarm signal normally controlled over said second circuit said relay operated by an opening of the alarm circuit, a second relay operated by the operation of said rst relay to substitute said devices for the alarm signal for control over said second circuit, repeated operation of a contactor causing only the operation of said signal `before the said second relay is operated and any operation of a contactor after the second circuit is prepared causing the explosion of said devices.

3. In a burglar alarm system, a protective wiring, a relay, gas discharging devices, a circuit including said wiring and said relay, a switch for closing said circuit, a signal, means controlled by said relay for operating said signal and maintaining it operated in case of a fault in said wiring, another circuit closed by the operation of said switch including a pluralityV of contactors, another signal operated upon operation of said switch in case'any of said contactors are closed, a second switch, acircuit controlled by said second switch, a relay in said last circuit operated when the second switch is closed only when said rst circuit is open and the first relay deenergizes,

a third signal operated when the second relay `energizes, and a third switch operated to bring said gas discharge devices under control of said contactors.

4. In a burglar alarm system, gas discharge devices, a normally open protective alarm circuit, another normally open protective gas circuit having open contactors, means for setting the alarm system including switches for preliminar-ily closbotli circuits, signals controlled by the closure of each circuit for indicating whenlthe circuits are not set in proper condition, another switch for switching the circuits into final set condition, and means responsive thereafter to an opening of the alarm circuit and the closing of a contactor for sounding an alarm and exploding said gas discharge devices after the circuit has been placed in final set condition.

5. In a burglar alarm system, an alarm, gas discharge devices, an alarm circuit, another circuit having open trip contactors, means responsive to an opening of the alarm circuit for sounding the alarm, said means also preparing the other circuit, and the tripping of any contactor closing said other circuitto explode the gas discharge `devices only after the alarm circuit has been opened.

6. A burglar alarm system as claimed in claim 5 in which said circuits are normally inoperative and there are a plurality of switches arranged to be closed'in sequence to render the circuits operative, and signals arranged to be operated by the operation of each switch in case any of the `circuits are not in proper condition to be set.

7. In a burglar alarm system, a protective alarm circuit, an alarm controlled over said circuit, gas discharge devices arranged in groups, a circuit for each group including contactors the operation of any one of which will explode the group of devices associated with that circuit, and means for preventing any operation of any contactor from exploding its group of devices as long as the protective alarm circuit is intact.

EDWIN O. WALKER. 

